Adjustable tray mechanism for duplicating machines



Nov. 1 1, 1941. R. F. MORRISON Em 2 262 51 ADJUSTABLE TRAY MECHANISM FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed April 2'7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQRS: Iiobewfif'ffo 171,300

EYS.

Nov. 11, 1941. R. F. Mom Em. 2, 2 0

ADJUSTABLE TRAY MECHANISM FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed April 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Geo r gex f. undfiad CMKIMJWQ ATT EYE.

Nqv. 11,1941. R. F. MORRISON ETAL 2, 0 4

ADJUSTABLE TRAY MECHANISM FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES I Filed April 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENIORSQ fioe i Flier/@3072,

BY I Gao rpe Jfia za z v m M RNEYS.

Patented Nov. 11, 1941 ADJUSTABLE TRAY MECHANISM FOR DUPLICATIN CHINES GMA Robert F. Morrison, Oak Park,

ltundbiad, Elmwood l'ark, 11]., asai and George J. shots to Ditto; Incorporated. Chicago, 111., a corporation of West vimm Application hpril 27, 1939, Serial No. 270,276 r 9 Claims. (91. lei-132.5)

This invention relates to duplicating machines and particularly to the delivery trays of such machines.

This invention is particularly adapted for use with the wet-process type of duplicating machine. In this type, copy sheets are fed to a pair of rollers, once! which is moistened with a solvent. As the copy passes between these rollers,

one surface of the sheet becomes moistened with a thin film of the solvent. The copy sheet so moistenedthen passes between a. drum and an impression roller, the latter serving to press the sheet against a master sheet carried by the drum, on which master sheet the matter to be copied appears in reverse. This reverse copy is made from an ink which is soluble'in thesolvent so that as the moistened copy sheet passes between the impression .roller and the drum it receives a positive impression from the specially-prepared master sheet. The copy sheet is then ejected tangentially of the drum by the momentum of its movement withthe drum so as to be received it upon the delivery tray. It has been observed that the copy sheets are ejected from the drum at different angles, the

'angles depending upon several factors. Where the copy sheets are long and relatively light, the sheets are ejected in a generally downward direction so as to arrange themselvesreadily in a neat pile in a tray having a downward'slant toward its outer end. Where the copy. sheets are long and heavy, they are ejected in a more elevated direction and have a tendency sometimes to over-- shoot the stop at the outer end of the tray unless the tray is tilted upwardly at its outer end. In

system work, where short and long sheets are sent through the duplicating machine in a single run, the stop must of course be located sufliciently forwardly to accommodate the long sheet. At the same time it is important that the short sheets fall toward the rear endof the tray, since if the short sheets are permitted to move tot-he front against the stop the rear edges of these sheets interfere with the leading edges of the succeeding long sheets and cause the long sheets to buckle so as to disturb the orderly stacking of the sheets on the delivery tray. This effect can be secured by tilting the front end of the tray upwardly.

The principal object of this invention therefore is to provide an improved means for supporting a delivery tray in a manner which will permit the tray to be held at different angles vertically for meeting varied conditions of use of the machine, and to provide an adjusting means of this type which is simple in operation and inexpensive to construct.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. The preferred form ofthe invention is shown companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the front portion of a duplicating machine-showing the delivery tray in position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially at the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the detents and its cooperating parts, with some of the parts shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially at the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and r i Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially at the line 5--5 of .Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, l0 represents the frame of the duplicating machine. Said frame l0 supports a feed tray I I on which copy sheets (not shown) aresupported prior to their insertioninto the m achine.' The copy sheets pass between guide means l2 to forwarding rollers l3 and Ill. The roller [4 is in contact with a wick l5 of fibrous material which is moistened with a solvent in the moistening mechanism generally designated by reference character l6. After the copy sheet passes between the rollers l3 and I4 it is pressed against a drum I! by an impression roller l8, 'for receiving an impression from a form-carried by the drum, such form to have the desired data printed thereon in reverse with specially-prepared ink. The rollers I3 and M are driven by well-known means which is not a part of this invention and accordingly is not shown in detail.

After passing between the drum l1 and the impression roller IS, the copy sheet is ejected by the momentum of its movement with the drum into position upon a delivery tray IS. The tray is formed from sheet metal, a portion 23 of which is turned upwardly to form the rear transverse wall of the tray. The edge 24 of the upwardly bent portion 23 is additionally bent outin the acsired, may be slid forwardly off the supporting screws by a movement longitudinally of the tray.

The lateral position of the copy sheets on the delivery tray is determined by spacing bars 28 and 29. These bars are provided with vertical portions 39 and 3|, respectively, which serve to restrain the copy sheet against lateral movement on the tray. The rear ends 32 and 33 of the sideportions 30 and 3|, respectively are flaredoutwardly to insure the entrance of the copy sheets into the space defined by the side portions 39 and SI. Y

The tray is provided with transverse slots 35 and 36-through which pins 31 and 38 carried by the side bars and 29 extend, such. pinsbei-ng provided with cotterpins 39 on their lower ends longitudinally by a collar 12' thereon adjacent to the stud 69, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The detents 65 are normally held swung to the limit of their movement in counter clockwise direction in Fig. 4 by a coiled spring 13 connected between the frame plate 6| as shown in holdir'ig'washer's 411 and springs 4! in position thereon for holding the side bars adjustably in position. In advance of the slots 35 and 36 (to ward the right in Fig. 2) there are additional transverse slots 42 and 43, through which pins 44 and 45 also carried by the side bars extend, such pins having nuts 46 and '41 secured by screw threads on their lower ends. It will be apparent that the spacing bars 28 and 29 may be locked in place by means of the adjusting nuts 46 and 41. In order to provide a cushioning action for the adjusting means, resilient pads 48 are provided between the spacing bars 28 and 29 and the bottom of the tray.

. The distance the copy sheets will be permitted to travel in the tray isregulated by a stop member 52. Said stop-member is formed from sheet metal and is provided-with an upturned front end portion 53 which normally projects into the path of the copy sheet as it is ejected from the machine. The rear portion 54 of the stop memsaid flgureand a pin "l4 extending from the shaft 69, such spring serving to hold the detents releasably in engagement with the teeth 66 of the rack bars 59 so as'to support the tray i9 from said shaft 68. Whenever the operator desires to lower the tray l9, he turns the shaft 68 in clockwise direction in Fig. 4 through the mediber is bent downwardly so that it proiects through a slot 51 in the tray below the surface of the tray. Near the end 54 are located opposed notches 5'5 and 56 in the stop member which form a neck portion adapted to be received within the slot 5'! in the tray so as to form a guide for the stop member. The stop member is further secured slidably in position by means of a bolt 58 extending through a slot 58a in the stop member and having a nut 58!) holding a washer 580 in position engaging the tray I9 at opposite sides of the slot 61.

The novel adjusting means for the tray comprises rack bars 59 welded or otherwise secured to the bottom-face of 'the tray l9 with their front edges concentric about the pins 29. In the arrangement shown, the bars 59 stand normally in engagement with grooved studs 69 extending inwardly from the frame bars GI, the studs being mounted in position by means of nuts 62 secured by screw threads on reduced portions of the studs extending through slots 63 in the frame bars, as is best shown in Fig. 5. The grooves about the studs are provided in the construction illustrated by machine screws 64 whose heads extend outwardly beyond reduced end portions of the studs, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The tray I9 is held in adjusted position laterally by the engagement of the rack bars with the grooved studs without interfering with the swinging movement of the tray. The tray is also held by the lugs 69 and the rack bars against movement forwardly out of engagement with the supporting screws 29.

For cooperation with the rack bars 59, we have provided latch means comprising detents 65 movably supported in position to engage the teeth 66 ofthe rack bars, the detents in the arum of the head H so as to carry the detents out of engagement with the rack bars, whereupon the tray isfree to move downwardly to the desired adjusted position. Whenever the operator desires to raise the tray i9, this can of course be accomplished by upward pressure on the tray without any preliminary retraction of the detents, the upward movement of the tray being limited-by the hooks 15 on the detents 65 engaging pins 16 on the rack bars 59. v

For limiting the rotary movement of the rock shaft 68, we have provided a pin Tl extending from the shaft through a notch I8 in the edge of a rib #9 carried by the inner face of the end frame plate, as shown in Fig. 4. Thispin by engagcment with theends of the notch holdsthe shaft against rotary movement beyond that desired.

The adjusting mechanism above described provides a means for changing the angle-0f the mentum of their movement with the drum, the

tray with respect to the drum so that it may be elevated for heavy sheets or for system work, and lowered for light sheets. The adjusting means does not interfere with the'removal of the tray, and does not interfere with the secure attachment of the tray in operative position during operation of the machine. The arrangement is such that the adjustment of the angular position of the tray does not effect the effective length of the tray as controlled by the stop member '52 and that an adjustment of the effective length of the tray does not change its angular position. A single control knob sufilces for the manipulation of the tray supporting mechanism, so as to leave the operator free to swing the tray by hand into the desired adjusted position.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is merelyillustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereto but is to be determined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy sheets are pressed one at a time by an impression roller for taking copies therefrom and are then ejected tangentially of the drum by the mocombination of a delivery tray for receiving said sheets after they leave the impression roller, means for pivotally supporting said tray, a rack azeasio bar fixedly mounted on said tray having a series of teeth arranged concentrically about the axis on which said tray is pivotally mounted, and latch means pivotally mounted on aflxed axis adapted by engagement with said rack barteeth to hold the tray in adjusted angular position. i

2. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy sheets are pressed one at a time by an impression roller for taking copies therefrom and are then ejected tangentially of the drum by the momentum of their movement with the drum, the combination of a delivery tray for receiving said sheets after they leave the impression roller, and means for pivotally supporting said tray in adjustable angular position comprising spaced rack bars movable with the tray, detents pivotally mounted on fixed axes adapted by engagement with the rack bars to hold the tray against downward movement, and common means for controlling said detents.

3. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy sheets are pressed one at a time by an impression roller for taking copies therefrom and are then ejected tangentially of the drum by the momentum of their movement with the drum, the combination of a delivery tray for receiving said sheets after they leave the impression roller, and means for pivotally supporting said tray in adjustable angular position, comprising spaced rack bars movable with the tray, a rock shaft rotatably mounted adjacent to 'said tray, and detents fixedly mounted on said rock shaft so as to rock therewith in position to engage said rack bars for holding the tray releasably in adjusted position against downward swinging movement. a

4. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy sheets are pressed one at a time by an impression roller for taking copies therefrom and are then ejected tangentially of the drum by the momentum of their movement with the drum, the combination of a frame, a delivery tray pivotally mounted on said frame below said drum and removable by a movement longitudinally of the tray, a rack bar arranged concentrically about the axis on which said tray is pivotally mounted, latch means mounted on said frame adapted by engagement with the teeth of said rack bar to hold the tray in adjustable angular position, and a lug carried by the frame adapted by sliding engagement with said rack bar to hold said tray against longitudinal movement out of engagement with 'said frame,

5. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy sheets are pressed one at a time by an impression roller for taking copies therefrom and are then ejected tangentially of the drum by the momentum of their movement with the drum, the combination of a frame, a delivery tray pivotally mounted on said frame below said drum and removable by a movement longitudinally of the tray, a rack bar arranged concentrically about the axis on which said tray is pivotally mounted, latch means mounted on said frame adapted by engagement with the teeth of said rack bar to hold the tray in adjustable angular position, and a grooved lug carried by the frame adapted by engagement with said rack bar to hold the tray against movement laterally and to hold the tray normally against movement longitudinally of the tray out of engagement withtheframe. n, w a 6. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy sheets are pressed one at a time by an impression roller for taking copies therefrom and are then ejected tangentially'of the drum by the momentum of their movement with the drum. the combination of a frame, a delivery tray pivotally mounted at one end on said frame in position to receive the sheets from said drum and impression roller, spaced rack bars movable with the tray, a rock adjacent to said tray. detents fixed y mounted on said rock shaft so as to rock therewith in position to engage said rack bars for holding the tray releasably in adjusted position against downward swinging movement, means for limiting the rotary movement of said rock shaft in either direction, and yielding means normally urging said detents in the direction for engagement with the teeth of said rack bars.

7. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy sheets are pressed one at a time by an impression roller for taking copies therefrom and are then ejected tangentially of the drum by the momentum of their movement with the drum,

the combination of a frame, a delivery tray for receiving said sheets from said drum and impression roller, means for pivotally supporting said tray in adjustable angular pomtion comprising spaced rack bars movable with the tray, and detents pivotally mounted on fixed axes adapted by engagement with the rack bars to hold the tray against downward movement, and releasable means adapted normally to limit upward movement of said tray.

8. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy sheets are pressed one at a time by an impression roller for taking copies therefrom and are then ejected tangentially of the drum by the momentum of their movement with the drum,

the combination of a frame, a delivery tray for receiving said sheets from said drum and impress-ion roller, means for pivotally supporting said tray in adjustable angular position comprissing spaced rack bars movable with the tray, and

detents pivotally mounted on fixed axes adapted by engagement with the rack bars to hold the tray against downward movement, and hook means carried by said detents adapted by operative engagement with said rack bars normally to hold said rack bars against upward movethe combination of a frame,

ment out of engagement with said detents.

9. In a duplicating machine of the liquid process type having a drum arranged to carry around a master sheet against which a series of copy and removable by a movement longitudinally of the tray, a rack bar arranged concentrically about the axis on which said tray is pivotally mounted, latch means mounted on said frame shaft rotatably mounted A adapted by engagement with the teeth of said rack bar to hold the tray in adjustable angular position, a lug carried by the frame adapted by sliding engagement with said rack bar to hold said tray against longitudinal movement out of engagement with said frame, a pin extending from one face of said rack bar near its lower end, and a hook carried by said latch means adapted by engagement with said pin normally to hold said rack bar against upward movement out of engagement with said latch means.

ROBERT F. MORRISON. GEORGE J. RUNDBLAD. 

